Though the world and specifically the US gets an "objective" view of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, it is often best to see the views of both parties instead in order to get a more complete look of the situation. In the Ukraine, the tension began as former President Viktor Yanukovych denied a deal which would have a greed for more interaction and a better relationship between the Ukraine and the European Union, something that the majority of the country, who is pro Europe, would have agreed to. This raised questions about whether or not President Yanukovych was acting with his citizens' best intentions in mind. Riots poured out all over the city of Kiev, its beautiful capital city and destruction ensued, causing countless injuries and numerous fatalities.
Though this was a major factor in the beginning of the riots, this is not something recent. These differences have been developing for years and have largely been a regional issue within the country of Ukraine, creating unrest between the pro-European West/North and the pro-Russian South/East.
The regional differences are evident when some maps are reproduced and it is clearer to see where the problem lies.
The New York Times posted a spectacular article explaining the conflict in maps.
These news began to surface through social media several months following these riots due to the government passing, and then appealing laws, through Twitter.
It is great that social media had the power to make an entire world aware of what had/has been occurring but something that is bothersome to many is that it had to be that the Ukrainian government did something wrong for there to be a sudden interest in foreign affairs. Nonetheless, it has come to the attentions of millions, creating an uproar and a strong, worldwide, moral support for the Ukraine.
The way the Ukrainian citizens have been strong and relentless in protecting their beliefs and rights is moving and from the beginning, Ukrainian protesters declared they would accept nothing less than the resignation of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. With this accomplished, it seemed as though the Ukraine was moving in the right direction but as one thing seemed to go well, another got worse and Russia got involved.
After the Russian government lost some of their alliance with the Ukraine by losing both Yatsenyuk and Yanukovych, Russian President stepped in and declared a vote which proved that the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which is important because of its oil, voted affirmatively and largely (with a 96% yes) that it would become a part of Russia and disband from the country of Ukraine.
While many call this vote "illegitimate" and "with no legal grounds at all", it is this vote which has stood and as of several weeks ago there has been a treaty signed between Russia and Ukraine annexing the parliament of Crimea as Russian territory.
This caused a lot of unrest. Not only had the Ukraine been having issues with their oil (recalling on Russia for 30% of their oil) but they had just lost a major industrial center.
These are only some of the recent events that have been taking place within the Ukraine and affected Russia and many of the Ukraine's surrounding area as well. More recent events that have taken place include an entry of Russian forces into Crimea in order to "evict" Ukrainian armed forces from the area.
Though the world and specifically the US gets an "objective" view of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, it is often best to see the views of both parties instead in order to get a more complete look of the situation. In the Ukraine, the tension began as former President Viktor Yanukovych denied a deal which would have a greed for more interaction and a better relationship between the Ukraine and the European Union, something that the majority of the country, who is pro Europe, would have agreed to. This raised questions about whether or not President Yanukovych was acting with his citizens' best intentions in mind. Riots poured out all over the city of Kiev, its beautiful capital city and destruction ensued, causing countless injuries and numerous fatalities.
Though this was a major factor in the beginning of the riots, this is not something recent. These differences have been developing for years and have largely been a regional issue within the country of Ukraine, creating unrest between the pro-European West/North and the pro-Russian South/East.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/01/24/this-is-the-one-map-you-need-to-understand-ukraines-crisis/?tid=pm_world_pop
The regional differences are evident when some maps are reproduced and it is clearer to see where the problem lies.
The New York Times posted a spectacular article explaining the conflict in maps.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/02/27/world/europe/ukraine-divisions-crimea.html?_r=0
These news began to surface through social media several months following these riots due to the government passing, and then appealing laws, through Twitter.
It is great that social media had the power to make an entire world aware of what had/has been occurring but something that is bothersome to many is that it had to be that the Ukrainian government did something wrong for there to be a sudden interest in foreign affairs. Nonetheless, it has come to the attentions of millions, creating an uproar and a strong, worldwide, moral support for the Ukraine.
The way the Ukrainian citizens have been strong and relentless in protecting their beliefs and rights is moving and from the beginning, Ukrainian protesters declared they would accept nothing less than the resignation of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. With this accomplished, it seemed as though the Ukraine was moving in the right direction but as one thing seemed to go well, another got worse and Russia got involved.
After the Russian government lost some of their alliance with the Ukraine by losing both Yatsenyuk and Yanukovych, Russian President stepped in and declared a vote which proved that the Ukrainian region of Crimea, which is important because of its oil, voted affirmatively and largely (with a 96% yes) that it would become a part of Russia and disband from the country of Ukraine.
While many call this vote "illegitimate" and "with no legal grounds at all", it is this vote which has stood and as of several weeks ago there has been a treaty signed between Russia and Ukraine annexing the parliament of Crimea as Russian territory.
This caused a lot of unrest. Not only had the Ukraine been having issues with their oil (recalling on Russia for 30% of their oil) but they had just lost a major industrial center.
These are only some of the recent events that have been taking place within the Ukraine and affected Russia and many of the Ukraine's surrounding area as well. More recent events that have taken place include an entry of Russian forces into Crimea in order to "evict" Ukrainian armed forces from the area.
http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=64bb733c-4b82-4288-a3cd-b5fbda36f5cd%40sessionmgr4002&vid=1&hid=4110&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=buh&AN=94259219
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ukraine-protests-what-exactly-is-going-on-in-kiev-9083107.html
http://www.rferl.org/content/eu-expected-to-discuss-possible-measures-on-moscow-over-crimea/25287303.html